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Kazan 2013 Directorate Supervisory Board discusses Games Competition Programme

Multisports 12 December 2012

KAZANA regular meeting of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Supervisory Board was held via video conferencing between Kazan and Moscow last week.

The video conference with the Chairman of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Supervisory Board, Vitaly Mutko, saw the participation of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan and Deputy Chairman of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Supervisory Board, Rustam Minnikhanov, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Asgat Safarov, the Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, as well as senior executives of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate. Attending the meeting at the Moscow office were the State Secretary/Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Natalia Parshikova, the Russian Student Sports Union President, Oleg Matytsin, Tatarstan’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism, Rafis Burganov, the Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, Vladimir Leonov, and representatives of federations for summer sports. 

Vitaly Mutko said in his opening speech: “In the next 3-4 years Russia will be the leading nation in terms of hosting major international events; that’s why we need to hold the Universiade at the highest level. Surely, huge work is underway to get the infrastructure ready for the Games but the competition programme, as well as the preparation of the Russian national team, are the most important part of the build-up.”

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, 16 working groups chaired by members of the Republican Government and heads of engaged departments were launched to address operating issues arising in the run-up to the Summer Universiade. The President of Tatarstan also noted that a few issues emerged in the preparation for the Games but all procedures and mechanisms were currently being elaborated. Rustam Minnikhanov said that the preparation of all Universiade venues was well on track in accordance with the approved schedule. The Gymnastics Centre, the 28th venue of the 27th Summer Universiade, was recently inaugurated; the construction of two other venues – the Aquatics Palace and the 45,000-seat football stadium – goes according to the plan. “We must complete the stadium by March to start its adjustment for the Opening/Closing Ceremonies,” Rustam Minnikhanov said. In addition, the President said, the reconstruction work at 18 out of 20 existing venues nears final stages. Competition venues and practice facilities will be handed over to the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate on 15 May and 1 June respectively. 

Rustam Minnikhanov also informed that the new terminal of the Kazan International Airport had already opened its gates for international flights on 1 December. Agreements were also reached with Moscow’s airports concerning the cooperation in rendering transportation services to everybody coming to Kazan for the Games . “The modernisation funds were used for updating the medical ambulance fleet that will be providing services to athletes and Games visitors,” the President said. 

According to Vladimir Leonov, the Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, 87 countries have already confirmed their participation in the forthcoming Summer Universiade and submitted online accreditation forms at www.kazan2013.ru or www.kazan2013.com. He also said that the organisers had started testing the Games Management System and added that 10 test events had been held in the year 2012. After all venues are transferred to the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, dress rehearsals of the busiest competition days of the Games, when 10-19 sports sessions will be held at once, as well as of the Opening Ceremony day will be held to check the operational readiness of all functional areas. 

The agenda addressed the preparation of judges – both international and national ones – for the Games. Judges and referees will be accommodated at motor ships moored at the river port of Kazan; Forward Company will supply judges with two sets of uniforms. Nineteen workshops are scheduled between January and July 2013 to help judges to upgrade their skills ahead of the Games. Amendments to competition regulations and other changes will also be discussed there. Vladimir Leonov said that the training of sports managers – professionals that understand the special nature of a specific sport – is of great importance. 

Members of the Supervisory Board also addressed volunteer training ahead of the Games. “Test competitions and other events that we held demonstrated how valuable volunteers are. We would like to thank them and announce that over 41,000 candidates have already applied as volunteers for the Universiade”, said Vladimir Leonov. He also added that active work was carried out regarding broadcasting of the 2013 Summer Universiade events. ANO Sports Broadcasting will supply a TV signal while Eurosport will provide up to 60 hours of live coverage and broadcast Universiade diaries. 

“The Universiade is the country’s reputation, a global project; plenty of preparatory works have been done; that’s why sports federations need to take an active part in the development of the Universiade competition programme,” said Vitaly Mutko to the representatives of federations. 

Russia to send its full-strength team to Kazan 2013

Russia’s extended national team which will take part in the 27th Summer Universiade will include over 600 athletes, as was reported at the meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate that was held via video conferencing between Moscow and Kazan.

It was also reported at the Supervisory Board meeting that 132 national athletes who competed at London 2012 seek to qualify for the Games in Kazan. It is notable that Russia’s extended team includes 17 Olympic champions, 17 silver and 11 bronze medallists. In total, Russia’s sports delegation will comprise 950-1,000 people. 

According to Oleg Matytsin, the President of the Russian Student Sports Union, Russia’s national team members will go through medical and anti-doping tests, and those Russian athletes who are potential Games participants will take part in all the test events scheduled in Kazan in 2013. Oleg Matytsin suggested that as many Russian athletes as possible be accredited to give students a chance to experience the Universiade’s unique atmosphere.  

Russia’s national team is gearing up according to a pre-set schedule. To this end, most of the federations have already selected head coaches for the national team for each sport. Medal predictions and hopes were voiced during the meeting as well; Russia’s team is set to win 212 medals, including 79 golds. The main opponents for Russian athletes are as always China, the USA, Korea, Japan, Ukraine. 

Vitaly Mutko, Russia’s Sports Minister and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, urged the federations’ leaders to encourage the best athletes that meet the age eligibility requirements to take part in the Summer Universiade. “We are investing serious resources in hosting the Universiade. For us, this is the country’s prestige, including its sports prestige. Therefore, we must make sure that we get our best team to perform at the Games on home soil,” Vitaly Mutko said.

 

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)